Grizzlies Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Guilford High School

Sports run deep in Guilford, and Guilford High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Grizzlies uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Guilford High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

1. Jay Koloseus – NCAA All-American Distance Runner & Division I Coach (Drake University)

Jay was a 12-time letter winner who led Guilford to its first State Open cross country title and won 19 combined state and New England championships. He went on to run at Syracuse, later coaching at Auburn and becoming Associate Head Coach at Drake University. (Source: GHS Hall of Fame)

2. Brianna ‘Breezy’ Rooney Wille – Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year, Division I Athlete (Quinnipiac University)

Breezy is Guilford’s all-time leading scorer in both basketball and soccer and was named Connecticut’s Gatorade Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American nominee. She played Division I basketball at Quinnipiac, after which her jersey was honored in the Naismith Hall of Fame’s MAAC Experience. (Source: GHS Hall of Fame)

3. Jonathan “J.D.” Rhode – All-American Soccer Player & Coach (Providence College)

J.D. earned All-State, All-New England, and All-American honors in soccer and helped lead Guilford to multiple SCC and state tournament titles. After playing soccer for all four years at Providence College, J.D. turned to coaching, with stints at Guilford High School as well as Jonathan Law High School. (Source: GHS Hall of Fame)

4. Brian T. Mahoney – Dual-Sport Collegiate MVP & MLB Executive (Philadelphia Phillies)

Brian won two state soccer titles at Guilford and became a rare dual-sport MVP in soccer and baseball at Hobart College. He later went on to work for the Philadelphia Phillies as Director of Advertising Sales. (Source: GHS Hall of Fame)

5. Caden Hillier – Running Back (Guilford High School, University of Connecticut)

One of Connecticut’s top high school running backs, Caden has emerged as a powerful and versatile offensive force for Guilford High. Known for his rare blend of size and speed, the recent graduate rushed for over 700 yards and nine touchdowns by October 2024. With offers from Duke and Georgetown, Caden ultimately committed to UConn, continuing his rise as one of the state’s most promising young athletes. (Source: CT Insider)

This content is brought to our community by T-Mobile.